‘Cowboy’ is riding off into the sunset.
Legendary UFC fighter Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, who starred in The Daily Wire hit movie “Terror on the Prairie” alongside former fellow fighter Gina Carano, announced his retirement Saturday in an emotional moment that brought fans at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to their feet. Following his last fight, Cerrone laid his black cowboy hat and gloves in the center of the ring, then joined UFC announcer Joe Rogan.
“Donald, it’s been a special, special career my friend,” Rogan said. “You’ve had some beautiful moments inside this octagon. Tell me what’s going on right now.”
Cerrone, who had just lost by submission to Jim Miller in UFC 276, surveyed the cheering crowd and told Rogan his heart was no longer in the career that made him a legend.
“I don’t love it anymore, Joe,” said Cerrone, who was joined by his young sons. “I’m going to be a movie star, baby. It’s time to bow out.”
A movie star he is⭐️
Click here to see Cowboy Cerrone in our western #TerrorOnThePrairie: https://t.co/KyAxLMGPPG https://t.co/YRV7IEWWkQ
— DW Entertainment (@DailyWireEnt) July 3, 2022
“One hell of a career, man, and hopefully one day I’ll be in the [UFC] Hall of fame,” Cerrone said.
“One-hundred percent, you’ll be in the Hall of Fame,” replied Rogan, embracing the fighter in a hug.
Cerrone nearly ended his career with a knockout of his own, partially landing a kick to the side of Miller’s head. But Miller simultaneously kicked Cerrone in the torso, then scrambled to catch the storied fighter in a guillotine to force the tap-out.
Miller tied the UFC record with 40 fights, and his 16 submissions are tied for second with Cerrone.
“It feels great, but it’s a hard act to follow,” Miller said of Cerrone’s retirement announcement. “Donald’s a legend. He’s a guy I’ve looked up to and followed. We’re going to miss him.”
Cerrone, 39, who has fought in some of the sport’s most memorable bouts of the last decade, has 23 UFC wins, tied for second-most all-time. Prior to his time as a UFC star, Cerrone fought in the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and has a combined 48 appearances in the two circuits.
The Albuquerque resident fought Conor McGregor in 2020, and his 18 “Fight of the Night” bonuses are tied with Charles Oliveira for the most all-time.
Cerrone was known for taking on all comers with a trademark “anyone, anywhere, anytime” approach.
In “Terror on the Prairie,” Cerrone plays Jeb McAllister, a Civil War veteran trying to scratch out a life with his wife Hattie (Carano) on the unforgiving Montana plains.